Corset.



Patented Oct. I,- I901, I

CORSET.

(Application filed Jan. 19, 1901.

(N0 Modei WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MINNIE AGNES SHERRER GOLDEN, OE NEIV YORK, N. Y.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 683,745, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed January 19, 1901- Serial No. 43,840. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MINNIE AGNES SHERRER GOLDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to corsets; and it has for its object to provide an improved corset which shall serve to impart a better form or figure to the wearer, which shall embody features of adjustability permitting an easy though close fit, and which shall be superior in points of durability and general efficiency and at the same time be relatively inexpensive in manufacture.

My invention constitutes an improvement over the construction disclosed in Letters PatiggoNo. 664,214, issued to me December 18,

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the corset with the parts in operative position. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same with several of the parts in extended position. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view taken upon the lines 0000, Fig. 2.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates my improved corset, which embodies a back part 2, consisting of a top portion 3, adapted to extend transversely across the top of the back of the wearer between and over the shoulder-- blades, and a main or lower portion 4, adapted to extend over the lowerportion or small of the back of the wearer and across the same, but not at the sides thereof. The top portion 3 is provided with a set of parallel transverse stays or stiffening-strips, as at 5, such construction being adapted to properly compress the upper portion of the back of the user and draw in the shoulder-blades to impart the proper form. As most clearly shown in Fig. 3, said transverse stays or stiffening-strips 5 are preferably forwardly bowed or curved to more positively serve the function for which they are intended. The lower portion 4 of the back piece is provided with a series of vertical stays or stiifening-strips 6, whereby the proper compression to give the desired form is effected at the lower portion of the back, and the lower ends of said stays 6 are preferably curved outwardly or rearwardly, as at 7, to impart the proper. back curvature of the lower end of the corset.

At the side edges of thelower portion of the back,at a point immediatelybeneath the arms at each side of the corset, is provided a flexible side wing or extension 8, which extends forwardly and is adapted to compress the side of the body of the user at a point beneath the arms, said side extensions connecting with shoulder-straps 9, which project forwardly from the top ends of the upper portion of the back, by means of which construction the said extensions 8 and the shoulderstraps 9 conjointly form armholes 10. The flexible side extensions 8 and the flexible shoulder straps 9 are conjointly extended forwardly to form flexible front bust-flaps 11, respectively, at each side of the corset and which are of a limited vertical extent or area, so that the lower edges 12 extend obliquely upwardly and forwardly entirely above the stomach-cavity of the wearer. The flexible bust-flaps 11 are respectively provided with suitable convex bust forms or pockets 13, which may be suitably stayed or stiffened or may be flexible throughout their area, as desired or preferred. The front edges 14.- of the bust-flaps 11 are respectively provided with fastening means by Which they may be detachably connected together, said fastening means being preferably adjustable, so that the degree of compression may be comfortably regulated. To this end I prefer to employ fastening means which consist of a series of buttons 15, which are secured to one of the flaps, and a series of tapes 16, which project from the edge of the other fiap and are provided with a plurality of buttonholes 17.

The shoulder-straps 9 preferably consist each of two parts, one of which, S), is directly connected with the top portion 3 of the back, and the other of which, 9*, is directly connected with the respective flexible side extension 8. Suitable means, as at 18, for adjustably connecting the parts 9 and 9 are provided, whereby the vertical position of support of the flexible extensions 8 and the breast-flaps 11 may be regulated and whereby the size of the armholes 10 may also be regulated. The means of connection 18 prefer- ICO ably consist of a series of hooks 19, which are secured to one member of each of the shoulder-straps, and a plurality of eyes 20, which are secured to the other member of each of the shoulder-straps.

By means of the improved construction and arrangement as above set forth the only stilf and fully-stayed portion of the corset is at the back, the bust-flap portion being flexible and thegeneral contour and arrangement being such that there is no pressure Whatever upon the stomach-cavity, thus insuring ease and comfort and at the same time imparting a good form or figure totl e. wearer.

The lower portion of the body is sustaine and braced by an abdominal band or portion 21, which extends from the side edges of the lower portion 4 of the back and projects across the front of the corset at a point considerably beneath the bust portion. Said abdominal band preferably comprises side portions 22, which are respectively connected to the side edges of the lower portion 4 of the back 2, preferably at a point just beneath the side extensions 8 and in position to extend forwardly over the hips. The members 22 preferably embody each a relatively stiif and broad outer end portion 23, and said end portions 23 are provided with fastening means 24, whereby they may be detachably secured together in position to support the lower portion of.the body. Said fastening means 24 may consist of hooks and eyes or any other desired and suitable equivalent.

Connected at one end with the upper portion of each of the end portions 23 of the abdominal band or portion is a back strap or band 25, which is arranged to extend about the small of the back of the wearer and serve to more securely maintain the abdominal band or portion in position. The back strap or band 25 is provided with an elastic portion 26, whichimparts a tensional function to the back strap and causes a more positive maintenance of the abdominal band or portion in position. The end portions 23 of the abdominal band or portion are preferably reinforced at each side by a relatively thick and flexible strap 27, and said straps 27 are preferably extended above the end portions 23, as at 28, and constitute means of connection for the ends of the back strap 25. Elastic media 29 are interposed between each of the end portions 23 and the back of the corset, and said elastic media cause the relatively broad end portions 23 to bear firmly though yieldingly upon the lower portion of the body. The elastic media 29 are also adj ustably connected with the back portion of the corset, preferably by the straps 30 and buckles 31. The elastic media 29 preferably consist of a plurality of elastic tapes 29, each of which is connected at one end with the respective portion 23 of the abdominal band or portion and at the other end with a transverse inelastic strap or. band 32. The elastic tapes 29 are arranged horizontally, and the inelastic strap 32 is arranged vertically. The straps 30 are connected with the straps 32 and extend horizontally, and the buckles 31 are connected in a vertical seriesvwith the respective edge of the back of the corset. Between each of the straps 32 and the adjacent edge of the back of the corset is interposed ashirring or gathering 33, in which is incorporated sufficient elastic material to allow the same to be eX- tended and to automatically be retracted in accordance withv the phases of adjustment of the straps 30 with respect to the buckles 31. The elastic tapes 29 and the shirrings 33 are preferably relatively broad and form, in connection with the end portions 23, a continuous abdominal band or portion.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

The device forms a simple and comfortable corset which will operate to impart a good form or figure to the wearer and which will at the same time obviate the disadvantages usually experienced in the use of ordinary completely-stayed corsets. The means for adj ustably connecting the free or forward edges 14 of the breast-flaps 11 and the means for adjustably connecting the parts of the shoulder-straps 9 permit of an accurate adj ustment of the side extensions 8 and the breast-flaps 11 with respect to ease of fit of the upper portion of the corset. The abdominal band or portion 21 serves to firmly sup port and brace the lower portion of the body of the wearer and is assisted in its function by the yielding though positive reinforcement granted by the back strap or band 25. The degree of compression or amount of support furnished by the abdominal band or portion may be readily varied by regulating the tension of the elastic media 29, and this is accomplished by relatively adjusting the straps 30 to the buckles 31. The adjustment of these parts alsooeffects a corresponding adjustment of the. back strap or band 25. combined use of the forwardly curved or bowed transverse stays 5 and the rearwardly curved or bowed vertical stays 6 results in the perfect compression and melding of the back of the wearer to impart a good form or figure.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the featuresof construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention and improvements. I there fore reserve the right to all such variation and modification as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to, secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an improved'corset, the back portion,

The

an abdominal band or support connected at its ends with the back portion, and a back strap connected at its ends with the abdominal band or support and arranged to encompass the body of the wearer of the corset.

2. In an improved corset, the back portion, an abdominal band or support connected at its ends with the back portion and embodying an elastic portion, means for regulating the length of the abdominal band or support, and a back strap connected at its ends with the abdominal band or support and embodying an elastic portion, said back strap being arranged to encompass the body of the wearer of the corset.

3. In an improved corset, the back portion, an abdominal band or support consisting of two parts each of which embodies a relatively broad end portion, each of said relatively broad end portions being elastically and adjustably connected with the back portion,

and a back strap connected at its ends with said relatively broad end portions and arranged to encompass the body of the wearer of the corset, said back strap being provided with an elastic portion.

4. In an improved corset, the back portion, an abdominal band or support having an adjustable connection with said back portion, and an elastic medium arranged between said abdominal band or support and said adj ustable connection and consisting of a plurality of elastic tapes, and a shirring or gathering interposed between said elastic tapes and the said back portion of the corset.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses.

MINNIE AGNES SHERRER GOLDEN.

Witnesses:

J. R. LITTELL, GEO. VAIL HUPPERTZ. 

